Food Allergy Management and Education Manual and Tookit Whether you are new to the allergy scene or not, want to spread the awareness or want to help educate you must see this toolkit. The Parents guide alone is 35 pages of amazing information from what to look for in a reaction to how to use your Epi-pen. Note that these guides follow the US allergy group (top 8 – milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish). I recommend you share this link with your schools and friends. In the toolkit you will find guides for: Getting started Emergency Preparedness Federal/State Laws Healthcare Professionals/School Nurses Administrators/Teachers/Principals Support Staff School Nutrition Staff Parents/Guardians Students/Classmates FAME Manual Glossary Find the guides here Share...

FDA Consumer Advice on Products Containing Ground Cumin with Undeclared Peanuts Key Advice The FDA is advising people who are highly allergic to peanuts to consider avoiding products that contain ground cumin or cumin powder, because some shipments of these products have tested positive for undeclared peanut protein. People who are highly allergic or sensitive to peanuts may be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction. Ground cumin may be sold as a spice, in a spice mix or kit, or as a minor ingredient when used in finished food products like soups and chilies. Most finished products are expected to have low amounts of ground cumin, and therefore low amounts of peanut protein. Products made before 2014 are unlikely to contain the affected ground cumin. View a list of Recalled Products. Who Should Know Consumers with severe peanut allergies and those preparing food for people with peanut allergies. What to Do Consumers with severe peanut allergies and their caregivers should: Review the list of recalled products and avoid these foods. They include ground cumin, seasoning mixes, and a variety of cooking “kits” which include “Tex-Mex” and Indian dishes. When choosing a food, review the ingredients panel. Products, such as soups or chilies that contain only small amounts of the affected ground cumin may not contain enough peanut protein to trigger a reaction in most peanut-allergic people. However, people who are highly sensitive to peanuts may consider avoiding products that list “cumin.” Realize that if the ingredients panel lists “spices,” it may or may not contain ground cumin. People who are highly sensitive to peanuts may want to call the manufacturer to find out if the product contains cumin powder. Realize that if symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as shortness of breath, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or hives, occur, stop eating the product and seek immediate medical care or advice. Realize that if an allergic reaction occurs, you can contact your local FDA consumer complaint coordinator. To find yours, visit:http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/default.htm. Why This Advice is Important The FDA is continuing to identify companies that received shipments of the ground cumin that contained undeclared peanuts and work with them to remove these products from the market....

Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) alerts us of the following: Certain lots of Kirby brand black beans with creole seasoning, 29 oz. size and Goya brand black bean soup, 29 oz. size made by Goya Santo Domingo, S.A. are being recalled. The voluntary recall was announced after the Company was notified by one of its ingredient suppliers that one lot of ground cumin had potentially been produced with undeclared peanut protein. Peanut is an allergen that is not declared on the product’s ingredient statement. This recall notice only affects Kirby black beans with creole seasoning 29 oz. size and Goya black bean soup 29 oz. size. No other sizes or varieties of black bean soup or black beans are affected. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this voluntary recall. Consumers who have purchased the products listed above are urged to discard the product and contact GFI’s Consumer Affairs Department Monday through Friday between the hours of 8AM to 5PM, EST at 1-800-275-4692. For additional information, click here. Share...

Greetings all! Janel from the Chicago Wolves has contacted me to spread the word about their Peanut Allergy Awareness Day. If you’re in the area be sure to get your tickets! Chicago Wolves Hockey Peanut Allergy Awareness Day I hope you are surviving the winter vortex and are ready for some spring sun. I wanted to touch base about the Chicago Wolves 4th Annual Peanut Allergy Awareness Game on Sunday, March 29th at the Allstate Arena … This will be a very special night as the entire arena will be nut-free and Section 116 will be power-washed to provide safe seating for those with severe allergies. As well, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to FARE. Share...

I was recently (today) contacted about the use of peanut-free symbols and how one can get them. Sadly I am unable to reply to the person who emailed me because the emails keep bouncing back, so if you are she, here is your reply. You asked: Hello my name is S, mother of a boy (5) who is allergic to peanuts and I was wondering about the peanut free symbol, if it has a copyright on it or if there is a generic symbol that is easy for the public to identify. I am looking for permission to use the peanut free symbol. If you could contact me back and either inform me of the route to take or how I can go about using a symbol with permission. My first question would be what you are planning to use it for. I’ve never come across one that is copyright though I suppose it is probable that someone out there has put a restriction of use on one. The one I use on my site http://eatnutfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/peanut_free-300×286.jpg I found on the web. In most cases if you are using it for personal use or not to make money there is no reason you should need permission. If someone approaches you about it you can make arrangements with them but chances are that won’t happen. If anyone out there has any further thougths, or are a graphic designer and want to make one for free-use that I can display and distribute on Eat Nut-Free, let me know! Share...